Fuli blinked. She rubbed her eyes with her paw, blurry from sleep. She looked around, checking her surroundings. She was at the sleeping spot. The rest of the Lion Guard were asleep - thank the Great Kings and Queens.
Her gaze found it's way towards Kion. She suddenly gasped at the horrifying thing she saw.
His scar was bleeding out onto the ground. His body jerked suddenly and sharply inhaled. "Stop... please..! Stop...! Help..."
Fuli quickly got to her paws. She suddenly fell back down when she felt the pain in her paw from her injury. Ugh. Stupid injury.
She got up again, favoring her injured paw and limped over to Kion.
She was about to wake him, but stopped. If I wake him, he'll just tell me he's fine. He will just refuse to let anyone help him like he always does.
She then thought of something, an idea that she had entertained before. She looked around, careful not to wake the Guard as she started walking.
She stepped lightly to avoid her paws crunching on any dry leaves or grass - that could wake the Guard.
She broke into a light trot after she was a good distance away from everyone, not going too fast due to her injured paw.
It was hard to see in the darkness of night - Fuli didn't know when she'd reach her destination but she hoped it would be soon. She trotted, favoring her injured paw and tasing the air, trying to catch a certain scent.
She soon felt familiar terrain under her paws similar to what she felt when walking towards the Tree of Life.
It wouldn't be long, she knew. She picked up the pace as much as she comfortably could and breathed, taking in the cool, crisp air.
She then slowed the pace - she didn't want to bump into something and hurt herself. That definitely wouldn't be ideal.
She then stopped when she suddenly saw something. Only a few pawsteps away was the Tree of Life. Only at that moment when she was close enough she was able to see it due to the darkness. She breathed a sigh of relief. She was lucky to have seen the Tree right before she crashed into it and could potentially hurt her injured paw.
She gingerly took a step forward. She could feel the giant Tree's roots under her paw, confirming that it was the Tree of Life.
She then walked forward, staring to make her way inside the cavern-like space. The dim light from the moon and stars left and she was momentarily left in darkness. But soon, it lit up with green, glowing mushrooms.
This was the Tree of Life all right.
The further she walked into the space, the brighter it glowed. Soon, she could make out a lioness sleeping peacefully inside. Janna, Queen of the Tree of Life, she knew.
Her sleep seemed peaceful - it looked like the best sleep the queen had gotten in who knows how long. Being Queen of the Tree of Life must've been a lot of work and who knew how often she would get rest like that.
A teensy bit of guilt squirmed inside Fuli, but was soon replaced by the feeling that one gets when they know they have to do something.
She sat down. "Queen Janna," she said, her voice not coming out more than a whisper.
The queen didn't respond. Instead she lightly stirred and tilted her head the other way, obviously still asleep.
Fuli sighed and guilt squirmed inside her once more. "Queen Janna." She lightly raised a paw and gently tapped on the queen's shoulder. "Janna."
"Hmm..." Janna began to stir and not long after, her eyelids finally fluttered open. "Who is this..." Janna murmured drowsily, not fully awake.
"It's Fuli," Fuli could so much as whisper. What if the queen was upset? Worse, what if the Night Pride found her here? They were already hostile... what would they think if they found Fuli here in the middle of the night?
"Fuli..?" Janna murmured, beginning to fully awake. She raised her head and lifted her paw towards her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"Apologies for waking you, Your Majesty," Fuli tried not to stutter. The lioness from her dreams still had that same energy around her that seemed to command attention and respect, though she knew that Janna would never do that. From what she knew, Janna was a caring lioness who was very gentle and held much wisdom, as much -or even more- of the legendary King Mufasa. Fuli took a deep breath, her heart beating faster than normal. She was worried and.. scared even. "But there's... something important that needs to be done."
"No need for apologies," Janna told her, holding the same warm smile she always held. Fuli looked into her gaze, so full of wisdom and patience. "Now, what is the important thing that you speak of?" Her green eyes seemed to spark with curiosity.
"There's something wrong and I need help." Fuli didn't avert her gaze and looked the queen in the eye. "Please."
"Of course, young one." Janna's calm demeanor didn't change. That might not be for long...
Fuli took a deep breath. "It's Kion," the cheetah told the queen.
"What about him?" Janna asked calmly, her voice seeming to hold a hint of curiosity.
"Kion... he isn't acting right. Something's wrong," Fuli told her, more worry and fear for the young lion welling up inside her. "Like, really wrong."
"How is he acting?" Janna asked.
"He's been... just..." Fuli tried not to trail off on front of the Queen, who still held a calm and warm gaze. "I don't know how to explain... but... he's been waking up every night, screaming. His scar bleeds every day and he coughs up blood... He's always flinching throughout the day, always shaking... He murmurs things.. like 'help' and 'stop.. please' and 'someone help'. He's always nervous.. And he... and he..." Fuli looked at the queen and felt nervousness rushing through herself. Why am I nervous? She asked herself, feeling the feeling and catching onto the fact that for some reason she was nervous. I'm doing what I think is right, why am I nervous?
Nevertheless, she inhaled and continued; "And he... he hurt himself."
"What?" Janna asked, disbelief edging her voice.
"Yeah... he cut himself with his claws. He thinks that he's meaningless and worthless... He thinks that no one cares about him... that his life was only used as a purpose to others..."
Janna let out a subtle gasp, almost not audible, but if one listened closely they could hear it. "Oh dear... This has happened before..."
"What?" Fuli could barely so much as murmur.
The queen shut her eyes, taking in a breath. A new emotion surrounded the lioness and cheetah. Fuli could sense it. The cheetah had experienced it before, and she knew what it was. It was a feeling that she wished didn't exist. It only filled one with sorrow... remembering someone that they once held close to their heart.
Grief.
Janna opened her eyes. "Fuli, you can save him..," the queen told her. "Be there for each other."
"How is that possible when he keeps shutting me out?" Fuli asked sadly, trying to rid the sorrowful emotion from her thoughts. "I've tried before but he just won't let me. He seems... scared."
"Troubling... Perhaps you can bring him here. I might be able to help his aching mind," Janna suggested, her demeanor of wisdom and patience never diminishing.
"That's the thing," Fuli told her. "He won't go. Believe me when I say that he won't."
Janna let out a sigh. Her gaze looked faraway, as if she was recalling something that had been long forgotten. "Fetch Nirmala. Her and the Night Pride sleep in the grasses near the Tree. Right of the Tree."
Fuli nodded. The queen must know what she was doing. She got to her paws and respectfully dipped her head to Janna then turned around and began walking out of the Tree, minding her injured paw.
When she exited the Tree, she took in a deep breath of fresh air. Still very cool and crisp. The glow of the moonlight and the stars very dimly illuminated the area.
Fuli picked up the pace, minding her paw. She paused and tasted the air, trying to catch Nirmala's scent.
Right of the Tree, Fuli remembered and walked right. She picked up the pace - she didn't want it to take longer than it needed to be to get to Nirmala.
She soon felt soft grass under her paws. It got longer and longer as she continued to walk. Soon the grass was up to her belly.
Fuli let out a small, involuntary giggle when the tall grass tickled her belly. She then silenced herself. There could be some animals nearby who were sleeping - she didn't want to wake them!
She picked up the pace a bit more, picking up her tail so it wouldn't brush against the grass and make noise.
At that moment her mind was set on one thing; finding Nirmala. She picked up the pace more. She knew that she couldn't delay.
She started to slowly break into a run. She felt cool grass under her paws. "Why hadn't I ran before?" She asked herself. "I can go much faster like-"
She then set her injured paw on the ground and yelped. She collapsed and bumped into something. That's why, stupid, she told herself, ever so slightly amused. The something, no, she realized, someone she bumped into started moving.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Fuli quickly got to her paws, minding her injury. "I didn't mean to wake y..." She trailed off once she realized who it was. "Nirmala?"
A yawn escaped her and she looked up at the cheetah. "Yes Fuli... what are you doing here..?" Nirmala asked drowsily.
"I need help."
"Help...?" Nirmala echoed drowsily. She rubbed her eyes with her paw and yawned once more.
"Yes, I need help. Kion needs help. I told Queen Janna about it and she told me to get you."
Nirmala looked at Fuli, her expression unreadable. She got to her paws. "Let's go."
Fuli rose to her paws and looked up at Nirmala. Nirmala began to trot off. "Come on," she called out over her shoulder.
"Where are we going?" Fuli asked, following her.
"To get Kion," Nirmala replied.
"Okay." Fuli picked up the pace to keep up with Nirmala. "Agh..." She grunted in pain. She could barely keep up with Nirmala due to her injured paw. Stupid paw, she thought.
Nirmala looked to the side. She must've heard the grunting. "Fuli? Are you okay?" She looked down. "What's wrong with your paw?"
"Oh.. I fell and hit it on a rock. Not much really," Fuli explained, hoping Nirmala wouldn't worry.
"It must hurt," Nirmala said. "Let's move slower. You can lean on me if you want."
Fuli didn't object. She knew that this was what was best for her and was grateful that Nirmala understood. So they moved at a slower pace, Fuli leaning on Nirmala.
Fuli soon felt the terrain under her paws that was near the sleeping spot. We must be close, she thought.
Soon, when they were close, she could barely see it. Their sleeping spot. She could hear murmurs coming from there.
"...What if we..."
"...Do you think you can..."
"...I think I know what..."
It made sense, after all, it was probably the rest of the Guard having a midnight chat. What are they talking about though? Fuli wondered.
But then she heard a cry of pain.
"Help."
A heavy and intoxicating smell hit her nose as she and Nirmala walked closer.
Blood.
She knew the voice who cried out in pain. She knew who it was.
She and Nirmala quickly rushed over to him. When they were close enough to see him, their eyes widened and they both gasped in horror.
Kion was splayed out of the ground, lying in a pool of blood. The rest of the Lion Guard were standing around him, obviously trying to figure out what to do.
Fuli now knew what the murmurs were about. It was the rest of the Guard desperately trying to help Kion.
Makini looked up in shock. "Nirmala! Thank goodness you're here! I was praying to the Great Kings and Queens that you'd come."
"We would've gotten you but we couldn't leave Kion alone," Beshte added.
"Okay, okay." Nirmala looked at the Guard. "Give me some space."
"But we wanna be near him!" Bunga protested.
Fuli gently nudged Bunga away. She greatly understood his reason - she would do anything to be by Kion's side right then to assure and comfort him during this ordeal. But she knew what was best for the lion. "I want to be there too," she sympathized. "But we need to give Nirmala space to work so she can help Kion."
"But..." Bunga's response trailed off. He obviously knew what was best for his friend. "Okay."
The rest of the Guard obeyed and backed up, letting Nirmala work.
Seeing Kion and Nirmala together reminded Fuli of the secret. A mother helping her son... The sweet thought was enough to bring a small smile to Fuli's face. However, that smile disappeared and was replaced with a guilty frown when she recalled one fact; He doesn't even know that she's his mother...
She heard Kion say something but she couldn't tell what it was.
Nirmala quickly approached Fuli. "He wants you here," she told her before quickly returning to Kion.
"He does?" Fuli asked quietly. Nirmala couldn't hear her because she already returned to Kion.
Fuli walked over to them and sat beside Kion. He looked up at her as if he had a million things to say, but couldn't say them.
"Fuli," he half coughed, half whispered so that no one would hear. "Leave. Get you and the Guard to leave."
Fuli leaned closer. "What?" She murmured.
"There's a danger," Kion told her quietly. "A danger to you and the rest of the Guard. Get out of here, all of you."
"What?" Fuli asked, then got a small idea. She made her voice slightly louder. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said," came Kion's response, matching her increase in volume. Not in a rude tone, but enough so she could hear. It's working, Fuli thought. "You and the Lion Guard need to leave. Now."
"What danger?" Fuli asked puzzled, raising her voice even more.
"A danger," Kion repeated.
"What do you mean Kion?" Bunga's voice cut into their conversation as the Guard approached them.
Kion looked shocked that Bunga and the others heard it. Nirmala obviously did too since she was right next to them.
"I mean there's a danger!" Kion shouted. "And you all are in danger!"
"What about you?!" Fuli half asked, half shouted.
"As far as that's concerned, I'm already dead."
"We need to get him to the Tree of Life!" Nirmala told them suddenly, seeming to ignore his mysterious warning of danger. "And hurry, he's bleeding a lot!"
"I can carry him," Beshte offered.
"That'd be great," Nirmala said and gently picked Kion up, the rest of the Guard -including Fuli- offering to help.
"Agh..," Kion groaned, obviously trying his best to hide it.
Nirmala and the Guard lifted him onto Beshte, still bleeding.
"Okay, now hurry!" Nirmala ordered.
"Got it." Beshte started to run. The rest of the Guard and Nirmala broke into a run to keep up.
Fear pulsed through Fuli's veins. What's gonna happen to him now?!
"Argh..." Kion grunted in pain, still bleeding severely onto Beshte. The hippo didn't seem to mind however. He was too worried about his best friend to complain.
Fuli saw that Kion's eyes were wild and he stayed as still as possible.
"Kion, it's all gonna be okay," she gently reassured. But what if it isn't?...
He coughed and raised his head. "Thanks Fuli." He paused and looked worriedly at her. Fuli guessed that he saw how worried and stressed she was. "Don't worry Fuli," he said softly, resting his head back onto Beshte's back and looking at her with the most reassuring gaze he could have at that moment. "I'll be okay." Fuli knew that he was just trying to reassure her.. and that he himself doubted if he was going to be alright. Beyond the reassuringness, Fuli knew he was trying to hide his own fear. The emotion itself could be seen in the depths of his gaze.
"Don't worry, I know." Fuli had to force those words out of her mouth. Truth was, she didn't know. In fact, she was doubtful that he'd be okay. But she couldn't tell him that.
Soon, Fuli felt shorter grass under her paws. Her eyes could ever so slightly make out a large, shadowy figure. It had a large trunk and branches. Fuli knew that they were nearing the Tree of Life.
They drew closer to the majestic figure and soon got to the cavern-like entrance. The dim light of the moon and stars that lit their way disappeared but was soon replaced by glowing green mushrooms.
In the space was a rock with Queen Janna laying on it, a calm expression on her face.
"Hello Fuli. You're back, I see," Janna said, greeting her with a smile. Her smile instantly disappeared when her gaze made it's way to Kion who was on Beshte's back, bleeding.
"Bring him here," Janna instructed. Beshte obeyed and dipped his head to allow Nirmala to lift Kion off of him and onto the rock. "Now Fuli, you say he's been waking up screaming, his scar bleeds, he's been coughing up blood, he's been flinching all day and is frightened all the time, and hurting himself?"
Fuli took in a breath. "Yes."
Janna frowned at the sorry sight of the young lion and lifted her paw to touch Kion's forehead. Fuli could feel the calm yet worried aura around the queen.
"Tree of Life, glorious Tree of Life, show me what has haunted this young lion."
The Tree's roots started to glow red. Fuli's eyes widened. Even though she had seen this happen with Ono, it didn't fail to astound her again.
But unlike the last time, a spark came from the roots and landed onto Kion's forehead, surprising her.
Kion's eyes started to glow green. Then amber. Then red. The colors started flashing. Then they flashed between the different colors fast. And faster. And even faster.
"What's going on...?" Kion asked weakly as the others all stared at him.
"Kion... your eyes," Fuli said astounded as the flashing slowed to a stop. She didn't think that she'd ever seen anything like it.
Janna's eyes widened in what looked like fear and shock, something that Fuli thought could never be seen in her.
"This is indeed a force that shouldn't be reckoned with," Janna murmured, turning away and shutting her eyes. Fuli sensed grief surround the queen once more. Janna then opened her eyes and turned to look at Fuli. "I'm sorry, but the darkness is almost too strong..."
"No!" Fuli gasped in horror and looked back at Kion. No...! "This can't be!"
"But," Janna cut in before Fuli could say anymore, "he still has a chance."
Fuli breathed a sigh of relief. She leaned in with wonder and relief and was about to speak before being cut off by Bunga;
"Yeah yeah, enough of that! Heal his bleeding!" The honey badger shouted.
"The bleeding won't heal.. until-"
Janna was cut off by Kion shouting out of nowhere. "NO! LEAVE THEM ALONE!" His voice held horror and fear. His eyes widened and he jumped off of the rock and started running.
"Kion!" Fuli exclaimed in fright. What?!
"Run!" Kion shouted and paused to look back at them, his legs shaking and body trembling. "RUN!"
"Run?!" Nirmala echoed.
"From what?!" Fuli asked.
Kion took off running out of the Tree, leaving a trail of blood behind.
"We have to catch him!" Fuli urgently told the rest of the Guard and Nirmala. "Lion Guard, let's go!"
She tried to chase after Kion, racing out of the Tree and following the trail of blood. The Guard and Nirmala were following her.
"Kion!" Fuli called out. She ran after him, minding her injury. "Come back!"
"NO!"
Fuli ran faster. She could feel the grass under her paws as she ran. Fear pulsed through her veins. Considering how Kion had been acting recently, there was no knowing what he might do if he was alone. Some dark thoughts of what he could do flooded through her, including... She quickly pushed it out of her mind. She couldn't bare to think about it.
She kept running. She had to find him. She imagined what he was thinking, what he was feeling. She knew that he was feeling one certain feeling, a feeling that he had been feeling for a while. Fear.
She kept running and running, occasionally looking back to check if the rest of the Guard and Nirmala were still following.
"Fuli stop now!" Anga called out sharply.
Fuli quickly stopped at her friends command. She gasped - there was a cliff up ahead!
She looked around. Kion was nowhere to be seen. Her heart skipped a beat as she hit a realization. Kion.. did he...?
She suddenly saw Kion burst out of the bushes nearby, running towards the cliff. He ran until he stood on the very edge. He peered down, looking at the drop below.
Fuli's eyes widened in alarm. Time almost seemed to freeze at that one moment. Every possible thought ran through her. Is he...? Why?... How?... He can't... I can't let him.. He won't... Why would he?...
She tried to gather her thoughts. She was snapped back to reality when she saw Kion again at the edge of the cliff.
"No!" She shouted, finally being able to form words.
He flinched at her shout and looked back at her. He then turned back to the cliff, bunching his legs. He looked like... Fuli could barely think it.
She ran to him as fast as she could, fear pulsing through her veins.
She tackled him to the ground in the opposite direction of the cliff. "Kion listen!" She shouted, wrapping her paws tightly around him.
"NO!" He tried to scrabble out of her grip. In response, she held on tighter. "IT'LL BE SAFER THIS WAY!" Kion screeched, trying to turn around and wriggle out of her grip. He twisted his head to look up at her. Fuli saw that his eyes were wild and filled with fear.
"No it won't! You can fix this! WE can fix this!" Fuli shouted in response, meaning every word.
Kion narrowed his eyes and his voice dropped low. "At what cost?" Kion's attempts to wriggle out of her grip subsided when she grabbed his scruff tightly in her teeth.
"Kion, just listen!" Fuli pleaded, momentarily letting go of his scruff. "Please! Whatever's going on, you don't have to face it alone! Let us help you. Let me help you."
Kion stopped wriggling and looked up at her. "I'm sorry." His voice broke and he looked up at her with a gaze that held an unreadable emotion. "But you'll be in danger if I let you."
"What do you mean?" Fuli asked, wondering what this mysterious thing going on with Kion was. "Just talk to us. Tell us what's wrong. We'll help, we promise. No matter what it is."
She heard pawsteps approaching behind her. "Yeah," Bunga agreed. She turned around to glance at him. She saw that the rest of the Guard -and Nirmala- all nodded in agreement.
Fuli turned her head back around. "We promise."
"How do you know?" Kion asked, his tone guarded.
"Because we love you," Fuli told him passionately. "Right everyone?"
"'Course we do," Bunga agreed.
"Affirmative." Ono nodded.
"Now and forever," Beshte told him.
"Always," Makini agreed.
"Yup," came Anga's simple reply.
Kion looked up at her. He looked as if he had something he wanted to say. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
There was a dead silence. Fuli started to think, trying to sort out her thoughts. Why is Kion doing this?... All he's doing is making himself go through more torture by not letting us help... He should let us help... Shutting himself out ISN'T healthy for him... The scar must be having more effects on him than we thought... or maybe it's something else... Janna said it was something dark... All of Fuli's thoughts began to collide. Ugh! How can I figure this out? Can I figure this out? YES, I HAVE to figure this out! Something could happen... I need to help him... I HAVE to help him... Oh, what do I do?... What CAN I do?...
Kion finally spoke, his voice cutting through her thoughts; "I know, and I love you all too." His eyes glimmered with remorse and regret. "And this is why I won't tell you. If I told you, I would be putting my needs of comfort and love before your needs of safety. Love is when you put someone else's needs before your own. And I love all of you, so that's what I will do."
Fuli was touched by what he said, but her determination to help didn't fade away one bit. "We love you too, and we're also willing to put your needs before ours."
Suddenly, something crashed into Fuli, sending her rolling off of Kion. She tumbled and tumbled. A sinking feeling rose inside of her as she saw a hole with a pit of endless blackness beneath it. The cliff!
She quickly reached out with her claws and caught the edge, her injured paw hurting. Her heart was thumping out of her chest. She looked at Kion who was frozen, watching her with fear in his eyes.
He then turned away from her. "Please stop!" He cried out. "She didn't do anything! Please!"
Fuli was slowly starting to lose her grip as Kion seemed frozen in place. He kept shouting. "Please no! She can't die! She can't!"
The thought hit Fuli hard as her mind began clouding with fear -and for once, that fear was for herself-. Die...? She thought fearfully. She never thought that one word could frighten her so much.
Kion rushed back to her and leaned down. "Don't worry Fuli, I've got you," he told her reassuringly. Fuli breathed a sigh of relief. I'll be okay. He reached out a paw to her, fear in his gaze. He then tensed and froze.
One word was uttered from his mouth. "No..."